The Government's Shut Down, the Flu Virus Isn't

Two weeks into the government shutdown, flu season is about to ramp up. And without full-scale infectious-disease surveillance by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, experts said, health consequences for the nation could range from unsettling to disastrous.

Normally, the CDC monitors influenza outbreaks across state lines. The agency continually analyzes circulating strains to detect the potential for brewing pandemics. And if there is any sign that a mutant virus is particularly virulent or has developed resistance to antiviral drugs, the CDC spreads targeted public health messages, develops new vaccines or takes other actions.